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| Saltmarshe Hall, East Yorkshire |
We went to a wedding down by The River Ouse. It was held in Saltmarshe Hall - once the family home of the noble Saltmarshe family. Now it's a remote wedding venue. We were there to witness the marriage of my friend Tony's youngest daughter to the love of her life, Jason.
There were around seventy guests. It was a civil ceremony. Shirley and I sat at the back of the room. Jason kept blubbering tears because he was so overwhelmed with joy. It was if he didn't understand what was happening and at one point he slapped his own face and said "Stop it!" Touching and funny.
As the registrar delivered her official spiel, I looked out of the parlour window and saw several figures upon the lawn. It was a shooting party. There were four or five beaters, several gun dogs and three men carrying rifles. One of them had a couple of dead pheasants tied to his belt. Meantime, indoors, Jason and his pretty bride were saying "I do" and weeping some more.
Several minutes later, on the stone steps of the hall, as the photographer was directing wedding guests, gunshots rang out across the fields and, wag that I am, I piped up, "It's a shotgun wedding!" Everybody laughed.
It's not what you expect on the happiest day of your life - pheasant shooters blasting frightened birds out of the sky. I doubt that it is very auspicious which happens to rhyme with Mauritius that happens to be the newly weds' honeymoon venue. Nonetheless, I suspect that they will be very happy together and that my old mate Tony could well be a grandfather by this time next year.. Good luck to them! It was a very lovely wedding.
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| Jason and Isabel |
Pay attention and stop looking out of the window Master Pudding. A handsome couple, I hope they have a happy marriage.
ReplyDeleteIt was like being at the back of the class in French lessons. What was happening outside always seemed more interesting.
DeleteIt's a lovely dress.
ReplyDeleteI hope the inauspicious pheasant hunting doesn't damage their prospects!
This is a couple that seemed destined to be together from the moment they first clapped eyes on each other. Even bloodthirsty bird shooters can't change that.
DeleteAn unusual soundtrack to a wedding, that's for sure - the sound of hunters' guns. How strange that they weren't asked to cease their heartless hobby while the wedding was in progress.
ReplyDeleteMay the young couple share a happy, loving life together.
I neglected to mention that as I watched the scene on the lawn, two men in fluorescent jerkins went out of the old hall and asked them to move on.
DeleteWhat a lovely setting for a wedding, regardless of the hunters. Congratulations to your friend's daughter and son-in-law.
ReplyDeleteIt was such a peaceful place - reached by a single track country lane.
DeleteI like Jason. He's not just going through the motions but realizes the reality of the situation.
ReplyDeleteHe is a hard working welder and a simple sort of fellow but he loves Isabel completely.
DeleteA lovely couple indeed. I hope they enjoy their honeymoon in Mauritius. I'll tell my son and his beautiful wife (who live there) to give them a nice welcome. Or leave them alone, which would be even more welcome...
ReplyDeleteI think they will be fine on their own Rozzie.
DeleteI echo Red's comment. Hopefully, their marriage will be as good as its beginning.
ReplyDeleteI know we shouldn't bet on marriages but if we did I would happily bet £1000 that this one will be successful and everlasting.
DeleteWhy spoil your write up of a nice wedding by inserting your dislike of shooting, didn't seem necessary to me.
ReplyDeleteBecause the pheasant shooters were there Derek and we all heard their shots echoing around the hall. I guess you would have preferred me to describe the detailing on the bridal gown and what the three bridesmaids were wearing.
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